Another opening in women’s lacrosse has been filled, and this time it comes in the Big Ten. Melissa Lehman, a former assistant at Penn, accepted the head coaching position at Rutgers.

Lehman had been the associate head coach with the Quakers over the past four seasons and has served on the staff since 2010. In her time at Penn Lehman helped the program to eight Ivy League regular season championships with the Quakers, three Ivy League Tournament titles, 10 trips to the NCAA Tournament and six NCAA Tournament victories.

"I am beyond excited to join the Rutgers family as the women's lacrosse head coach," Lehman said. "I could feel the passion and support for this program as soon as I stepped on campus, and am eager to begin working alongside the talented coaches, administrators and staff across the department. On a personal level, I can't wait to get back to my home state to start building this Big Ten program into a national competitor.”

In Piscataway, Lehman will replace former Scarlet Knights coach Laura Brand Sias, who led the program for 17 seasons. Sias finished second in school history with 133 victories.

The Rutgers program, however, has not had a winning season since 2013. In the past two seasons, Sias’ team went 12-21, including 1-11 in the Big Ten.

Lehman, a former Penn player, will take over having led Penn to some of its best years in school history.

"Karin [Corbett’s] guidance and the support from the entire Penn community have prepared me for this next step in my coaching career,” she said. “I am the coach I am today because of them and am forever grateful."